Computer Ethics, Fall 2021

Mondays 5:30-8:00, Dumbach 6
Class 10: Nov 15, 2021

Class 9 Readings

Read chapter 3 on Speech
Finish reading the Chapter 4 material on patents



US Treasury buys app data for investigations

This includes location data, specific enough to track people over time. The purpose is to investigate possible tax evasion, and also sanctions evasion. Legally, the treasury could not get warrants or perhaps even subpoenas for this kind of data, due to the fourth amendment. But they can still buy it. (Similarly, the police buy license-plate-reader data even when they might not legally be able to collect such data directly.)

theintercept.com/2021/11/04/treasury-surveillance-location-data-babel-street.

Apple must allow alternative payment platforms

The Epic v Apple case is starting to look like more of a loss for Apple than before, if not exactly a win for Epic Games. Judge Gonzalez Rogers has ordered Apple to permit in-app links to alternative, non-Apple payment methods starting on December 9.

This will cut Apple out of its 30% take of all app payments.

Previously, Apple accepted a change allowing app developers to contact their users via email, instead of only through Apple-monitored channels. That change was inconsequential, by comparison. Apple has appealed to the Ninth Circuit for a stay in the payment-options ruling.

www.theverge.com/2021/11/9/22773082/epic-apple-fortnite-lawsuit-ruling-injunction-stay-app-store-anti-steering-rules.

What the heck is Leadership in Innovation?

I doubt this "Restore America's Leadership in Innovation" act will get anywhere, but it raises some profound questions. Parts of the law propose shutting off options for defendants to appeal the granting of a patent to a plaintiff. Other parts propose allowing patentability of "inventions" that the Supreme Court has ruled were too stupid to patent under existing law.

patentlyo.com/patent/2021/11/restoring-leadership-innovation.html.

Supreme Court Google ruling sends shockwaves through legal community

Not, however, the US Supreme Court.

The UK Supreme Court issued a ruling making it much harder to file class-action lawsuits against Google. An existing lawsuit claiming that Google collected too much information failed because the plaintiffs had not proved that any user was harmed, either financially or emotionally. Proving harm in privacy cases is often a hurdle.

www.cityam.com/supreme-court-shock-google-ruling-sends-shockwaves-through-london-legal-community.




Debates

Obvious in context

Software-patent issues

Broad patents and the Wright brothers

Benson, Flook and Diehr

Federal Circuit

Examples of software patents

Heckel examples

Eolas

E-data

i4i

NTP

Patent trolls

Business methods

Apple patents

Stallman

Graham

Europe

KSR v Teleflex

Bilski

Mayo Labs, Myriad Genetics

Abstract patents; Ultramercial and Alice